Organic  Vegetable Gardening Tips

Soil Preparation:  “It’s all about the soil!”  Plan on using 3 bags each of organic mushroom compost (40 lb. bags) and organic soil conditioner (1 c ft bag) for every 50-60 square feet of planting. (50 – 60 sq. feet is a 10x5 or 3x20 etc. space – length x width).  Then work the soil amendment into your existing soil to a depth of 6-12 inches.

Raised Beds:   When you live on top of a rock – build a raised bed!  Use local redwood or cedar for your construction instead of pressure treated wood.

Check Soil pH:   If the pH is wrongs, plants simply cannot access the nutrients in the soil!  If your soil is acidic (It will be if you live in the upstate!) mix in oyster shell lime with your planting soil at a ratio of one 10-pound bag per 100 square feet.

Starter Fertilizer:  Be sure you use a starter fertilize when vegetable gardening that has “Mycorrhizal Fungi” in the label.  This beneficial fungus must be in the soil so that it contacts the roots of plants and encourages healthy root growth.    Simply sprinkle it on the soil and rake it in the top 2 inches after the bed is prepared OR add to each plant at the time of planting.

Keep Fertilizing:   Use dry granular blends of organic tomato and vegetable fertilizers.  These fertilizers include fish emulsion and kelp meal.  To get lots of food you’re your vegetable plants you have to keep giving your plants food!   Granular fertilizers last longer than liquid fertilizers and they are a time saver.

Set up a Smart Watering System:  Steady drip irrigations puts less stress on vegetable plants and it reduces splashing up onto leaves and spreading disease that over head, and hand watering can cause.    Drip irrigation is also extremely water conservative.

Call us for an Irrigation Consultation and we can design and install your automatic drip irrigation system for you.  Typical systems cost around $  700.00 for materials and labor!  That gets you a custom  automatic drip/mist irrigation system for your garden.